Teen accidentally shoots, kills self

MADISON COUNTY, Ill. – Madison County authorities are investigating an accidental shooting death over the weekend.

Madison County Coroner Stephen P. Nonn says 18-year-old Austin J. Wilcox was found unresponsive inside his apartment in the 700 block of Washington Avenue in Alton at 1:34 a.m. Saturday.

Witnesses told police Wilcox recently obtained a semi-automatic handgun, but it was not working properly, and would not fire. The witnesses said they were watching television when the heard a gunshot, turned around, and saw Wilcox had accidentally shot himself in his head with the handgun he had been playing with.

Nonn says routine toxicology testing for drugs and alcohol will be performed.